Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
29 Oct 2025
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 1 day
Feedback
19
Email verified
Badges (3)
Details
Description
My husband and I, both in our sixties, have bought a 100 Ha dairy farm with 20Ha native bush at the foot of the rugged Kaimai range. After living overseas for years, it is nice to settle with our animals, 2 dogs and 2 horses but there is plenty of work such as planting new areas, weeding and maintaining new plantations, fencing off new marshy areas and taking off old rusty fences, maintaining the large garden, clearing ditches and streams, painting sheds, cutting hedges etc. Our farmer grazes 180 cows on the land. It is a truly beautiful place, 15 minutes away from shops. Plenty of walks, bike rides
Types of help and learning opportunities
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
General Maintenance
House sitting
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We have both travelled a lot. Chris is originally from France (ex teacher), Derek is a Kiwi, still working as an engineer. We offer a great opportunity to live on a dairy farm which is so important in the Kiwi culture. Yet, it's a small friendly one intending to stay that way with breathtaking views of the mountain.
Help
We need fit and enthusiastic people who enjoy working outdoors, sometimes with limited farm transport and basic tools. A lot of walking may be required as some parts of the farm are not accessible otherwise, such as up the rivers. Even though we are on a dairy farm, workaway workers are not required to do work related to the dairy business as this is taken care of by our "share milkers" . We only want to keep up with regenerating native bush and general maintenance of our land. We live away from cities, so you need to love the country and wide spaces.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
French: FluentThis host offers a language exchange
Christine has been a language teacher for many years, including English, and has learnt a few more. She is always interested in learning more
Accommodation
We offer a brand new cottage, completely independent, 2 bedrooms, next to the main farm house. Also the shared use of the swimming pool in the summer months. We will provide food but helpers will cook for themselves. We would love them to share our dinner once a week so we can get to know each other better and catch up on what is being achieved.
What else ...
We are located near the Hobbiton village, Matamata and Te Aroha are the towns we shop at. There is a bus linking these towns to Hamilton. Down the road are the famous Wairere Falls, a good hike. Also Mount Te Aroha, another good hike and plenty of mountain biking. 3kms away is a brand new cycle way But it's also nice to relax in the fields or in the bush, by our streams, or simply lounge by the pool.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
My animals / pets
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (10)
We felt very grateful for staying in… read more
The work at… read more
Photos
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
We felt very grateful for staying in… read more
The work at… read more
Chris and Derek were so happy every day and it really made our experience that much more by always been greeted with smiley faces!
We absolutely loved everything about this… read more
They are really generous and they make u feel that you are at home! Their farm it's beautiful, with a lot of animals and… read more
